The Honda Sports Award is an annual award in the United States, given to the best collegiate female athlete in each of twelve sports. There are four nominees for each sport, and the twelve winners of the Honda Sports Award are automatically in the running for the Honda-Broderick Cup award, as the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year. Three other athletes are honored as the Division II Athlete of the Year, Division III Athlete of the Year, and Inspiration Award winner.
Process Winners are selected in each of the 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports by a panel of more than 1,000 NCAA administrators. Three other athletes are honored as the Division II Athlete of the Year, Division III Athlete of the Year, and Inspiration Award winner. Each woman is selected not only for her superior athletic skills, but also for her leadership abilities, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.
At the end of the year, one deserving athlete will be chosen as the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and receive the coveted Honda-Broderick Cup. Past winners of this prestigious award include Jackie Joyner and Mia Hamm.
Honda has donated more than $3.4 million in grants and scholarships to the universities over the course of the program.
History of the awards The Awards were first created in 1976, when Tom Broderick, an owner of an apparel store in Fergus, Ontario, decided to partner with Judie Holland, the senior women's administrator at UCLA and Irv Grossman, a journalist, sports marketer and media consultant, to create awards to recognize top female athletes at the collegiate level.
The first awards were given in 1977, for Division I athletes, initially in ten sports and later expanded to 12 sports:
Basketball Cross Country Field Hockey Golf Gymnastics Softball Swimming & Diving Tennis Track & Field Volleyball Soccer (added in 1990) Lacrosse (added in 2001)
Each of these awards was initially called the Broderick Award. In addition to an individual award for a recipient in each of the ten sports, an overall winner across all sports was selected, and that individual also received an award, called the Broderick Cup, representing the top female athlete in collegiate athletics.
Although athletics prowess was a major consideration in the selection process, the selection committee considered "not only athletic achievement but also the ideals of team contribution, scholastic endeavor, school and community involvement and those personal characteristics as stated in the philosophy of the NCAA".
In 1985, American Honda agreed to become the main sponsor of the awards, so the name of the award was changed to the Honda-Broderick Award for each of the individual sports, and the Honda-Broderick Cup for the overall winner.
In 1988, three new awards were created. Two awards recognize Division II and Division III athletes, respectively with a single award for each division covering all athletes in all of the designated sports. The third award is the Inspiration Award, which goes to a female athlete who has had to overcome hardship. Nominees are provided by all NCAA sanctioned schools and the organization Board of Directors makes the final selection.
Between 1995 and 2008 the organization also selected a recipient of an Award of Merit. The potential recipients were not collegiate athletes, but individuals and organization who contributed significantly to:
Public awareness and appreciation of women's collegiate athletics Elevation of the status of women's collegiate sports on a national level
This award was renamed the Irv Grossman Award of Merit in 2007, after his death in 2006.
The recipients of this award have been:
1995 Charlotte West (Southern Illinois) 1996 Phyllis Howlett (Big Ten Conference) 1997 Christine Grant (Iowa) 1998 Judith M. Sweet (UC San Diego) 1999 Judith R. Holland (UCLA) 2000 Barbara Hedges (Washington) 2002 Ruth Berkey (NCAA) 2003 Patsy Mink (Senator, Hawaii) 2004 Birch Bayh (Senator, Indiana) 2007 Vivian Stringer (Head Coach, Rutgers Women's Basketball) 2007 Rutgers Women's Basketball (Women's Basketball Team) 2008 Women's Sports Foundation (WSF, Founded by Billie Jean King)
Award ceremony Honda Sports Award announcement for the winners of the twelve sports are scheduled throughout the school year, following the completion of the post-season tournament. Other awards are presented as part of a two-day event, typically in late June of each year.
The Collegiate Women Sports Award (CWSA) partnered with ESPNU for the 2013 event, and since 2014, has partnered with CBS to televise the announcement of the following awards:
Honda Inspiration Award Honda Division II Player of the Year Honda Division III Player of the Year "Top Three" finalists selected from the twelve award winners of each individual sport Honda Cup for the overall Collegiate Woman of the Year
Since 2013, the annual event has been held at the USC Founders Club at Galen Center in Los Angeles.
The 2020 award ceremony scheduled for June was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Pre-2000 Winners and nominees For award winners and nominees prior to 2000, see Honda Sports Award pre 2000 winners and nominees
2000–01 Winners and nominees Sources: +SportWinnerCollegeFinalistsBasketballJackie StilesSouthwest Missouri StateSvetlana Abrosimova, Connecticut; Tamika Catchings, Tennessee; Ruth Riley, Notre DameCross CountryKara Grgas-WheelerColoradoShalane Flanagan, North Carolina; Sabrina Monro, Montana; Erica Palmer, WisconsinField HockeyMarina DigiacomoOld DominionTraci Anselmo, Penn State; Kelli Gannon, Michigan; Carla Tagliente, MarylandGolfCandy HannemannDukeNatalie Gulbis, Arizona; Candie Kung, Arizona; Lorena Ochoa, ArizonaGymnasticsMohini BhardwajUCLABridget Knaeble, Michigan; Suzanne Sears, Georgia; Onni Willis, UCLALacrosseJen AdamsMarylandQuinn Carney, Maryland; Bowen Holden, Georgetown; Sheehan Stanwick, GeorgetownSoccerMeredith FloranceNorth CarolinaMeghan Anderson, Nebraska; Anne Makinen, Notre Dame; Tracey Milburn, UCLA; Christie Welsh, Penn StateSoftballJennie FinchArizonaOli Keohohou, BYU/Hawaii; Kelly Kretschman, Alabama; Stacey Nuveman, UCLASwimming & DivingMisty HymanStanfordMaggie Bowen, Auburn; Natalie Coughlin, California; Colleen Lanne’, TexasTennisLaura GranvilleStanfordBea Bielik, Wake Forest; Ansley Cargill, Duke; Michelle Dasso, Notre DameTrack & FieldBrenda TaylorHarvardTracy O’Hara, UCLA; Christina Tolson, UCLA; Angela Williams, USCVolleyballGreichaly CeperoNebraskaKara Gormsen, University of the Pacific; Sherisa Livingston, Wisconsin; Logan Tom, Stanford Sources: +AwardWinnerSportCollegeHonda Cup Collegiate Woman Athlete of the YearJackie StilesBasketballSouthwest Missouri StateHonda Inspiration Award winnerKendra BernerSwimming & DivingDavidsonDII Honda Athlete of the YearJessica MartinSwimming & DivingTruman StateDIII Honda Athlete of the YearTasha RogersBasketballWashington (St. Louis)
2001–02 Winners and nominees Sources: +SportWinnerCollegeFinalistsBasketballSue BirdConnecticutChantelle Anderson, Vanderbilt; Alana Beard, Duke; Diana Taurasi, ConnecticutCross CountryTara ChaplinArizonaLauren Fleshman, Stanford; Renee Metivier, Georgia Tech; Kristin Price, North Carolina StateField HockeyAutumn WelshMarylandJemima Cameron, Wake Forest; Llvy Friebe, Princeton; Adrienne Yoder, Old DominionGolfVirada NirapathpongporaDukeDanielle Downey, Auburn; Lorena Ochoa, Arizona; Summer Sirmons, GeorgiaGymnasticsAndree’ PickensAlabamaJamie Dantzscher, UCLA; MaryAnne Kelley, Minnesota; Theresa Kulikowski, UtahLacrosseErin ElbeGeorgetownRachel Becker, Princeton; Christine McPike, North Carolina; Jaimee Reynolds, CornellSoccerAly WagnerSanta ClaraJoanna Lohman, Penn State; Abby Wambach, Florida; Christie Welsh, Penn StateSoftballJennie FinchArizonaStacey Nuveman, UCLA; Jamie Southern, Fresno State; Natasha Watley, UCLASwimming & DivingNatalie CoughlinCaliforniaMaggie Bowen, Auburn; Maritza Correia, Georgia; Shelly Ripple, StanfordTennisBea BielikWake ForestErin Burdette, Stanford; Gabriela Lastra, Stanford; Jessica Lehnhoff, FloridaTrack & FieldAngela WilliamsUSCBrianna Glenn, Arizona; Muna Lee, LSU; Melissa Price, NebraskaVolleyballLogan TomLogan TomEmily Adams, USC; Aury Cruz, Florida; Kim Willoughby, Hawai'i Sources: +AwardWinnerSportCollegeHonda Cup Collegiate Woman Athlete of the YearAngela WilliamsUSCTrack & FieldHonda Inspiration Award winnerKristin KoetsierBasketballWestern MichiganDII Honda Athlete of the YearNicole DuncanTrack & FieldCal State (LA)DIII Honda Athlete of the YearJulia BergofskyField HockeyMiddlebury
2002–03 Winners and nominees Sources: +SportWinnerCollegeFinalistsBasketballDiana TaurasiConnecticutAlana Beard, Duke; Nicole Ohlde, Kansas State; Latoya Thomas, Mississippi StateCross CountryShalane FlanaganNorth CarolinaAlicia Craig, Stanford; Lauren Fleshman, Stanford; Kate O’Neill, YaleField HockeyTiffany SnowOld DominionMarcie Boyer, New Hampshire; Llvy Friebe, Princeton; April Fronzoni, MichiganGolfMikaela ParmlidUSCErica Blasberg, Arizona; Katherine Hull, Pepperdine; Lindsey Wright, PepperdineGymnasticsOnni WillisUCLAJamie Dantzscher, UCLA; Theresa Kulikowski, Utah; Richelle Simpson, NebraskaLacrosseRachael BeckerPrincetonLauren Aumiller, Virginia; Kelly Coppedge, Maryland; Suzanne Eyler, Loyola CollegeSoccerChristine SinclairPortlandJoanna Lohman, Penn State; Catherine Reddick, North Carolina; Aly Wagner, Santa ClaraSoftballNatasha WatleyUCLALovie Jung, Arizona; Cat Osterman, Texas; Kristen Rivera, WashingtonSwimming & DivingNatalie CoughlinCaliforniaMaggie Bowen, Auburn; Maritza Correia, Georgia; Shelly Ripple, StanfordTennisVilmarie CastellviTennesseeAgata Cioroch, Georgia; Amber Liu, Stanford; Kelly McCain, DukeTrack & FieldElva GoulbourneAuburnLaura Gerraughty, North Carolina; Muna Lee, LSU; Raasin McIntosh, TexasVolleyballLogan TomStanfordEmily Adams, USC; Aury Cruz, Florida; Kim Willoughby, Hawaii Sources: +AwardWinnerSportCollegeHonda Cup Collegiate Woman Athlete of the YearNatasha WatleySoftballUCLAHonda Inspiration Award winnerKristy McPhersonGolfSouth CarolinaDII Honda Athlete of the YearMissy GreggSoccerChristian BrothersDIII Honda Athlete of the YearLibby HysellSoftballCentral
2003–04 Winners and nominees Sources: +SportWinnerCollegeFinalistsBasketballDiana TaurasiConnecticutAlana Beard, Duke; Nicole Ohlde, Kansas State; Nicole Powell, Stanford; Lindsay Whalen, MinnesotaCross CountryShalane FlanaganNorth CarolinaSara Bei, Stanford; Michaela Mannova, Brigham Young; Kimberly Smith, ProvidenceField HockeyKelly DotonWake ForestMari Creatini, Northeastern; April Fronzoni, Michigan; Vanessa Immordino, Ohio StateGolfSarah HuarteCaliforniaKarin Sjodin, Oklahoma State; Susie Mathews, UCLA; Charlotte Mayorkas, UCLAGymnasticsJeana RiceAlabamaJeanette Antolin, UCLA; Melissa Vituj, Utah; Lindsay Wing, StanfordLacrosseAmy AppeltVirginiaKelly Coppedge, Maryland; Gail Decker, James Madison; Theresa Sherry, PrincetonSoccerCatherine ReddickNorth CarolinaJoanna Lohman, Penn State; Nandi Pryce, UCLA; Lindsay Tarpley, North CarolinaSoftballJessica van der LindenFlorida StateAlicia Hollowell, Arizona; Lyhia McMichael, Mississippi State; Kristen Rivera, WashingtonSwimming & DivingTara KirkStanford Margaret Hoelzer, Auburn; Natalie Coughlin, California; Kaitlin Sandeno, USCTennisAmber LiuStanfordMegan Bradley, Miami; Julie Coin, Clemson; Jelena Pandzic, Fresno StateTrack & FieldKim SmithProvidenceHyleas Fountain, Georgia; Tiffany McWilliams, Mississippi State; Lauryn Williams, MiamiVolleyballApril RossUSCKele Eveland, Georgia Tech; Ogonna Nnamani, Stanford; Kim Willoughby, Hawaii Sources: +AwardWinnerSportCollegeHonda Cup Collegiate Woman Athlete of the YearTara KirkSwimming & DivingStanfordHonda Inspiration Award winnerChanda GunnIce HockeyNortheasternDII Honda Athlete of the YearZoila GomezSoccerAdams StateDIII Honda Athlete of the YearMary Ellen GordonTennisEmory
2004–05 Winners and nominees Sources: